On Day 2 of the Rajkot Test, India sorely needed a wicket as England’s Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett raced to the back end of the pitch. Mohammed Siraj, the quick bowler, provided it.
Laying the groundwork for a short-ball trap, Siraj double-bluffed and delivered a good-length delivery that struck Pope’s pads, resulting in a major appeal. The on-field umpire ruled it not out because he believed the ball hit Pope high on the pads and was heading down the leg-side given the angle.
After considerable hesitation between Mohammed Siraj and skipper Rohit Sharma, the latter decided for the review with only approximately two seconds on the clock. The DRS returned three reds, driving the Indian squad into a frenzy. Ollie Pope could not believe the ball was striking the wickets and had to return to the pavilion.
Here is a video of the dismissal.
Pope and Duckett scored 93 runs for the second wicket. The two were nearly unstoppable, and Siraj was a huge help to his side.
Ben Duckett’s dazzling century puts India under pressure in Rajkot Test
Despite losing two wickets, England will be thrilled to have scored 207 runs in just 35 overs in their first innings in Rajkot. Ben Duckett deserves a lot of credit for scoring his third Test hundred.
Duckett returned undefeated at Stumps, scoring 133 off just 118 balls in an innings that included a couple of sixes and 21 fours. Ollie Pope contributed 39 runs, but Duckett’s brilliance was too much for Rohit Sharma and his teammates on Day 2.
Joe Root’s full-toss driven boundary on the last ball of the day summed up the hosts’ frustration in the final session. India will need stronger strategies to prevent England from cruising ahead on Day 3.
